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Bedfordshire
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These will be uploaded as they become available.
October 2008Isn't it typical, we get an extra 25 words or the chance for a photograph in the section report and what happens in the Bedfordshire Section this month? - not a lot! Club night was a "Noggin & Natter" although that isn't strictly accurate because my dictionary reckons a Noggin is about a quarter of a pint and none of our section has ever been spotted with anything that small. A pleasant evening though with lots of nice bikes and loads of "Natter". Journal deadlines meant it was too late to publicise the change of speaker for the September meeting but well done Don for standing in at short notice - report next month. Evenings are starting to pull in and shed lights are coming on but don't forget our monthly meetings including the AGM in November. Is the section doing what you want, could you help in any way - this is your great chance. September 2008Not sure about all-singing-and-dancing but July certainly has been an all-riding month - who said the Bedfordshire boys and girls don't do runs? The Albert Brown Run this year was again extremely enjoyable even if a road blocked by a car crash did cause minor chaos and the unfavourable weather put the kibosh on the afternoon section. Luckily we had a lovely evening for the car park concours resulting in a great turn-out with lots of visitors - but, strangely, no judging this year. An enforced late change of venue for the Social Run saw a welcome return to the Musgrave Arms, Shillington where, it is rumoured, a bunch of ageing renegade rockers can be found on a semi-frequent basis looking for a jukebox to race to. August 2008A small but select bunch of veteran, vintage & girder fork mounted riders enjoyed the challenge of the Arthur King Memorial Run twisting its way through the back roads of Beds & Herts. A pity that numbers are so low for this well organized event. No such shortage of bikes and riders at the ride-a-bike to Shefford club night in June - oh to be a Turtle Wax shareholder! The annual barbeque at Cranfield managed to draw the rainclouds but not before many had already left home without packing their waterproofs (and spent the evening staring out the window to see if the rain would stop). Good job the excellent and plentiful grub was indoors. A fun ride home indeed for those suffering from 6V lighting. July 2008The month of May was a merry one indeed for the fine people and machines of the Bedfordshire section. The Spring Run saw an impressive 20 bikes on a near re-run of last year's excellent route but this time without the curtain of rain to hide the scenery. Brian Cornwell entertained us admirably at the club night with his reminiscences from 50 years of motorcycling combining humorous personal experiences with sporting endeavours and technical talk. The variety of bikes at the anti-social run to the Musgrave Arms in Shillington was nothing short of amazing, including no less than three veterans. And congratulations to section member Ivor Webb who's off to the Isle of Man to receive a loyalty award for an amazing 50 years attendance. June 2008The Bedfordshire gourmet dining experience continued at the April clubnight with the traditional fish and chip supper. A very successful evening, popular with everyone apart perhaps from the North Sea cod population which took quite a hit. But I'm sure they would have derived some comfort from the wonderful collection of bikes that appeared on such a nice evening. Lots more chances to ride those bikes now that Summer is (hopefully) here and we step up to two clubnights each month and even some weekend runs. June sees the Arthur King Memorial run, the ride-a-bike-to-Shefford night and the BBQ outing to Cranfield, followed in July by the Albert Brown run, the car park concours and an evening ride-out. Keep those fingers crossed for good weather. May 2008Certainties in life are few but one to add to the proverbial "death and taxes" is that Anglian "A" team will win the Bedfordshire inter-section team quiz. And, most impressively, they did so again this year. The quiz has become semi-legendary over the last 20 years but change is afoot as Hoppy and Chris Illman are retiring from organizing it, and the ladies who have fed us so splendidly also feel it is time for a rest. Volunteers are sought to prevent a tradition being lost. May sees the start of a busy Summer programme starting with what promises to be a fascinating talk from Brian Cornwell. Then fetch your steeds in from their Winter grazing ready for a canter around on the Spring Run. April 2008The February club night coincided with St Valentines Day but numbers didn't seem to suffer. Indeed, I counted at least ten loved ones that had been brought along - five in the audience and five more left parked outside! An audience of around 80 (attendance, that is, not average age - although, now I think of it...) were entertained splendidly by Phil "Hoppy" Hopkins and the fruits of his search for some often tenuous links between airships and early motorcycle engine manufacturers. April club night is the traditional fish and chip supper night. Then the run season will soon be upon us, starting with the Spring Run on 18 May, the AKM Run in June and the Albert Brown Run in July (see Regs Available). March 2008The January club night featured a very professional, informative and fascinating insight into the operations of the East Anglian Air Ambulance service. Very reassuring to know they're there but hopefully our motorcycling exploits won't cause any of us to need their professional services. The March clubnight sees the Bedfordshire hospitality wagon rolled out once again for the much celebrated intersection quiz. Teams of three are invited to do battle with the Goliaths of old bike trivia, knowing they can console themselves in defeat with some great nosh. Then back on the diet ready for the April fish and chip supper night. It's no wonder we see so few small capacity bikes - with all this gourmet feasting, they can't carry the weight! February 2008Unfortunately Santa himself didn't make it to the December club night but the fine array of Christmas fare would have done him proud. Jolly chilly that night so only three bikes (no sleighs) spotted in the car park. The special Christmas raffle raised about £170 for the local Cheshire Home and this was boosted magnificently by a collection among the 35 or so festive riders setting off from there on the traditional Boxing Day Run. The February club night features Phil (Hoppy) Hopkins investigating the not very obvious link between motorcycles and airships (sorry, we're saving the Ariel motorcycles joke for later in the year). Then all evening leave is cancelled to allow everyone to get down to some serious revision for the March inter-section quiz. January 2008A healthy turnout of more than 35 members ensured true democracy at the section AGM and without the need for UN observers. But changes were afoot. Ivor Rhodes took over as secretary but with an appeal for member participation to help make things happen. New blood was transfused into the committee in the varied forms of Will Curry, Nigel Coote and Chris Dawkins - volunteers all, not a King's shilling in sight. Many thanks to Peter Hall and Lew Birt for their past efforts. But the greatest thanks of the evening went with the award of the Section Shield to the retiring secretary Hoppy (aka Phil Hopkins) for recognition of his untiring efforts, not just over the last 12 months but for the last 30 years! December 2007The lights are coming on in workshops across the County, loved ones have been abandoned, teabags have been stockpiled, and the only good reason to emerge is club night. October saw my own debut as the monthly entertainment, telling tales and showing pictures of the places my motorcycles have taken me including the Himalayas, California, Eastern Europe and New Zealand. The audience was more than generous in its appreciation so I urge others to take centre-stage and tell us what lights your fire, motorcycling-wise. Our December gathering poses the intriguing question - "Do you believe in Santa?". And do you think he'll be able to get a pre-war Speed Twin down my chimney? Don't forget the Boxing Day Run - divorce grounds, if ever there were any! November 2007September's club night saw us ushered reluctantly back indoors for the start of the autumn and winter programme - reluctant, that is, only because of the lovely evening and the fine array of bikes gleaming outside. Once inside Will Curry treated us to an illustrated tour through the intriguing and sometimes surprisingly strange world of motorcycle manuals and handbooks with many examples taken from his own extensive collection, with even the occasional though predictable mention of Ariel motorcycles. The November club night brings the important business of the AGM and the need to find worthy replacements for some key officers. Never an easy task but the deceptively smooth running of the club doesn't happen by accident. Your County needs you! October 2007August club night was a rare nice evening so bikes were out in force and the table-top sale played rather a supporting role to an impromptu beer and natter in the car park. Weather was not so kind for the Beating the Boundaries Run with heavy rain throughout the night before and into the morning putting off all but a brave quartet. Nevertheless, fortune smiled in the unusual form of a broken brake cable and by the time it had been sellotaped together the rain had stopped ready for the venture into Bedfordshire's "outer limits". The October meeting sees yours truly showing pictures of my many motorcycle touring exploits. November is the all-important AGM and, be prepared, Hoppy is standing down as secretary - crisis? September 2007Luckily the Gods turned the taps off leaving the Albert Brown Run with ideal weather. A solid entry from veteran to classic set off from the Milton Keynes museum of Rural Life for an excellent run around the Northants, Bucks and Beds lanes. A splendid event indeed - very well organised. Good weather also ensured a marvelous turn-out for the "car park concours". Over 75 bikes of all descriptions were inspected, criticized, drooled-over and coveted by the gathered masses with a 1940s Royal Enfield v-twin, once again, taking "the bike I'd most like to be left in a will" award. It was pleasing to see many visitors to the club enjoying the display and adding to the spectacle with some very exotic modern machinery. August 2007The first Arthur King Memorial Run took a small but enthusiastic gathering of Veteran, Vintage & girder-fork machines on a splendid tour of the Beds & Herts backroads. Hopefully the huge effort by Roger and his family will be rewarded by better numbers in the future. Inclement weather for the club night's ride-a-bike-to-Shefford theme was disappointing but didn't stop the appearance of some finely preserved relics of Britain's industrial past - and many of them on bikes! My holidays meant I had to write this before the barbeque at Cranfield Social Club but hopefully it was its usual success. August sees the Beating-the-Boundaries run and the Table-top sale, when unwanted bits and unsuspecting punters meet. July 2007A large and appreciative crowd gathered on a damp May club night to hear Roy Price's fascinating account of sidecar scrambling through the 50s and 60s - most enjoyable. Unfortunately, the Spring Run lived up to its name only because a spring can be an abundant source of water - falling non-stop on the dozen riders! A great pity as the route and pub stop were excellent. We finally got lucky with the weather and had a lovely evening for the anti-social run to the Green Man in Eversholt where we were joined by some members of the Chiltern Section on a night off (i.e. mostly modern bikes, tut-tut). Lots happening in July, including the fiercely contested car park concours - pass the Solvol Autosol please. June 2007One swallow sidecar doesn't make a summer but no less than 32 "eligible" bikes (and a few exotic "moderns") at the April club night must be a sure sign of better weather. No speaker this month but a lot of good chat over the traditional fish and chip supper. June club night is "Ride a bike to Shefford" night so let's hope for good weather again to encourage another large turnout. Other highlights in June and July are the Arthur King Memorial Run, the Albert Brown Run, the Car Park Concours, the Cranfield Barbeque and a social night in Bromham with the AMOC. May 2007Shefford Memorial Hall was once again packed to the rafters as over 80 potential Brains-of-Britain displayed their knowledge of ancient and obscure motorcycles, associated personalities, and basic botany in the semi-legendary intersection quiz, now in its 19th year. The main round left most heads spinning but saw Anglian "A" and Chiltern "A" emerge as rivals for the quick fire 80-question final, with the Anglian section eventually victorious. But one question nobody had any problem answering was whether the food was good - of course it was, this is the Bedfordshire section! The month of May features a club night talk by 60s sidecar racer Roy Price, the Spring Run and the evening anti-social run (i.e. find your own way to the venue). April 2007Payback time for all the mild winter weather came at last - one decent snowfall and it would coincide with club night, wouldn't it? I hear about 16 hardy soles still managed to snow-shoe their way to Shefford to see "Chasing Shadows", a film made in 2000 about Vincents. No speaker for the April club night as we'll all have our mouths full with the traditional fish & chip supper. The merry month of May sees the first club run for the season - time to pump up those tyres and grease those bearings. The 2007 Bedfordshire Landmark Challenge should be on the website soon or contact me for a copy; a chance to explore the backroads over the course of the summer. March 2007The January club night was packed with over 80 members eager to learn all about magnetos from Dave Fisher. And they didn't go away disappointed having heard tales of slip rings, face cams and earth brushes - there was even a spot of praise lavished on the much maligned Joe Lucas! The Boxing Day run was well supported with around 30 bikes and riders keen to escape the turkey left-overs. An amazing £247.40 was raised on the day for the Ampthill Cheshire Home who kindly provided refreshments at the start. Only a few days left now to swot up for the intersection quiz night at the March meeting - come and be surprised by the amount of obscure knowledge you didn't even know you knew. February 2007A mild December club night brought out a good few old bikes - and an awful lot of old bikers. A generous bunch they were too with the raffle raising the handsome sum of £140.04 for the local Cheshire Home. The ladies did us proud with excellent festive grub including the essential sausage rolls and mince pies. The 2007 programme was unveiled to a roll of drums and fanfare of trumpets - action packed, as always with a splendid mix of talks, films, runs and food plus the annual quiz. Check out the website for the full programme and loads of other fascinating stuff. February club night features "Chasing Shadows", the film about Vincents. January 2007The November club night saw a good and fairly well-behaved turn-out for the section AGM; the stewards had a quiet evening. Generally favourable reports all round so the committee was voted back in en bloc - and everyone else secretly breathed a quiet sigh of relief. A very popular vote of thanks was made to Ivor Rhodes and his family for their unstinting dedication in organising the Albert Brown Run year after year. The Section Shield was presented to Bob Culver for his outstanding contribution to the section also over many years. Dave Fisher of Moathouse Magnetos will be visiting us for the January club night to talk about, yes you've guessed it, magnetos. Indeed, my own Triumph CN3 bears testament to his abilities. December 2006At the October club-night Hoppy treated us to a fascinating tale of a veteran car with the unlikely name of Adam. The story was originally discovered in a scrap book (The Book of Adam) bought at a jumble. The new-look website is up and running on www.vmccbeds.co.uk and looking for content. The programme for 2007 is progressing well and should be released with a small fanfare at the December club night. The evening will have a distinct seasonal flavour with an evening in Santa's grotto - but don't let that put you off, the grub'll be good! Don't forget the Boxing Day Run - the ideal way to escape the grandkids. January sees a visit from Dave Fisher (Moathouse Magnetos) to talk about, yes you've guessed it, magnetos. November 2006The September meeting saw an impressive array of shiny machines grace the car park for the return to dark evenings. Inside the hall, the unmistakable figure of our own Will Curry took the floor with a talk, nay more a chat, on "motorcycling today" including some interesting cost comparisons from a 1910s Ariel parts price list converted to today's prices. Another interesting observation was that of the fifty and odd people in the room, only five owned up to also owing a machine less than 10 years old. November sees the AGM so come along and have your say in Club affairs, whinge at the committee, then vote them back in for another year because they actually do it all quite well. |
Section notes have to be submitted to the Journal several months in advance of publication, hence November's notes referring to happenings in September. |
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Comments, suggestions and articles for inclusion to: Will Curry (wcurry37@hotmail.co.uk) Site sponsored by DJ Automation Engineering Ltd . |